Improved eillway-switch



r 'i l n @with trtes stent ffice.

ADOLPH F. BALLAS, OF POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA,

. Leners Paten: No. 76,973, dans April 21, 1868.

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TO ALL WHOM- IT MAY CNCERN:

Be it known that I, ADOLPI! F.. BALLAS, of Pottstown, in the county of Montgomery, und State of Pennsylvenia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switches; and I do hereby declare'that the following is a. full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the nrt to make ahd use'the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw|ngs,`and to the letters of reference marked thereon; Figure 1, Sheet I, is a plan or ,top view of asection of a' railway, showing my improved switch applied thereto. f

Figure 2, Sheet I, is a longitudinal section between the switch-rails. v

Figure 3, Sheet I, is a transverse vertical section through the line :i: zr, iig. 1, in front of the end of the switch-rails.

Figure 4, Sheet I, is a transverse vertical section through theline y y, g. 2, showing thep'oint of connectien between the tread of the switch-rail and the main track.

Figure 5, Sheet I, is a transverse vertical section through the line z z, fig. 2, showing the construction of the switchrs'il st that point, andthe full tread ofthe same.'

'Figure 6, Sheet II, is an end elevation of the switch-stand and target, showing the gearing for operating the latter.

Figure 7, Sheet II, is a vertical section between tho plates upon the switch-stand in the line afro, iig. 1.

The lmany accidents which occur through the switches new in use have led to the invention oy me of a switch, that, in itself,- will be suicient to guard against accidents, however careless orneglectful the switchman maybe; and by the present invention such a switch is obtained.. The principle of the switch consists in arranging it in such a manner as to be self-acting through a counter-weight suitably applied thereto.

A, in the drawings, represents the main track, und B the connecting branch or side truck, betwoen'which and the main traclr connection is had, wlicn so desired, by the switch-rails'C.

' These rails C are connected 'together by cross-rods D, and attached to the chains E of the rails in the ordi-^ nary mnnnrg'so as tcbe properly operated or brought into the positions desired.

These-switch-rails are so set as to eiiect an unbroken and constant connection of the-side and :nain tracks; that is, tho switch being in this position, trains or cars pass vin the direction of the arrow, both on the side track und main track, but a trgiin or cars passing in thc opposite direction thereto will run into the side laranch.

The switch-rails or tongues C are hung upon pivots at a, und held in position through the connecting-rodi, us above stated, by the counter-weight' v Tho improvements of' the tongues C, over those-heretofore in use, consist First, that the rails against which they set need not be notched, but can be preserved complete, thus avoid* ,ing the shock which a passing train always receives frorn an injured rail. i

Second, that the tongucis much strongci than generally, always giving a full heaving to the head of the wheel, until it transfers the -lond to the rail, where the point of the tongue fits closely between the head and foot of thc Lrnil. y f

In all switchtongues heretofore constructed, the end of thc tongue ,was inode wedge-shape and udoptudto fit into a notch in thi side oi' the rail. The ond-of tho tongue was of the same hoight as thc rail, and presented n very thin or narrow edge to the trend of thcl wheel, :ind was therefore liable to bc crudhcd and destroyed by heavily-laden trains, while the notches in the rails to receive tho ends of tho tongues weakened said-rails in u great degree. The point ofthe tongue was not only obliged to sustain thc entire load of thepassirfg train, hut was liable to displacement by the eon'cussiou of, the flanges ot' tho wheels. My invention is designed to avoid these objections. The end of tho tongue is constructed lower than the ruil, and is 'adapted to itsnugly against the web und the under side of the tread, vavoiding the necessity of forming notches in the latter.

By these uea'ns the tongue has no weight to carry atfits weakest place, und suiers no concussion, lint merely hnslto resist ti'hoside pressure of the flange te the' wheel, thus lasting a much longer time than any other,

rod, K, with thejswitch-rails o`r tongues C.

place. I Y f Thelcnge of a. txainru'nning in the direction of the arrow, with the switch set ns indicated in the drowings, will be driven between the movable tongue ond the stationary rail, and, acting like o. wedge, press the tongueout, raising the switch-weight F, the connection between which will be hereinafter described; thus making s. continuous track, and allowing the train to pass'without'the lanst dnger ot', b eing thrown oil' the track. fter the trein has passed, the counter weight 'will press the tongue against the rail, nnd thc switch wil be inits forme;` poston. e l,

The-'weight F is applied to one end of a rod, H, that ut its inner end is'liung eo ns to turn upon u centre,

iorm of tonguehithertc euxriloyed, sud which have to bear the full 'weight of the passing load 'on the weakest,

between two plates I, hung to the switch-stand J, so as to suing thereon, und ut one end connected, througlx'u Between theserplstes I` are stop-blocks M, iror the weight-arm Htc rest upon. When tlm weight is in the position shown in lig. 7, thc switclrwill effect nn unbroken connection of the mein traclqso that trains can run in both directions of it, and in coming from the sido track, in the direction ofthe arrow, the train will gain the' moin ltr'aelr by means of the sliding tongues, without the necessity of .turning the switch;4 and when the weigh'ts in the position shown in dotted lines of the sume ligure, it will goin the side track.

In either'position of the counterlweight, the target P, that is suitably connected therewith through pnionvvheels O, vrillrevolve, and shows 'white or other surface, as muy be arranged or sgreed upon, anfl thus indicate to the engineer ofthe train how the switch is eet.

Having thus described my invention, I claire es new, and desire te'secure by Letters Patent-f 1. .The switch-tongues, constructed as described, with their points lower thon the tread of the mils A, B, and dapted to t against the web, und below the trend of smid rails, free from contact withl th'c trend of the curi wheels, as herein described, for tlie purpose s'pecied.

2. In combination with the above, I claim the counter-weight, constructednnd curan-ged to operate or herein described, for the purpose specified. v

3. In combination with the tongues C and countofweight F, the revolving target P und gearing 0, operetb l t'ail. f d c 'bed i' rthepurfoso e ecied. mgm a m l yu es n o r 4 pf ADOLPH F. BALLAS.

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